A run through of 20 deals that could be done during the January transfer window.
20. Alexander Buttner – Manchester United to Besiktas
The Dutch full back has fallen out of favour at Old Trafford recently and had expressed a desire to venture out to Turkey in order to gain more first team action. A late loan move failed to materialise, but if his situation with the champions doesn’t improve then he could very well find himself boarding the next plane out to the Bosporus.
19. Adnan Januzaj – Manchester United to Manchester City
The young Belgian winger has been tipped to make a big impact with the defending champions, but still, when you’re not playing and growing frustrated at not being allowed to show what you can do and another club comes in for you – it’s easy to have your head turned. Januzaj is already being linked with Manchester City and as he is now in the final year of his contract with David Moyes’ men he will be able to negotiate a deal with someone else and sign on from January.
18. Eliaquim Mangala – Porto to Manchester City
The big French centre back was widely tipped to move on over the summer, but the Portuguese giants managed to keep a hold of him long enough for the window to shut. However, Manchester City’s interest still hasn’t died down, and with their injury problems at the back a move for the 22-year-old. And further more, he has responded to the links in kind by declaring his own interest. He’s enjoying life at Porto, but there’s only so long he will stay there before a bigger club comes along.
17. Lewis Holtby – Tottenham Hotspur to Inter Milan
Holtby must be wondering what he’s done wrong at Spurs. Signed last January for the bargain fee of just £1.4m he saw his chances limited during those first months in London. Fair enough, it’s not unusual for player who has joined halfway through a season to play a bit part for the rest of the campaign. However, this summer saw his manager sign seven new midfielders following the departure of Gareth Bale to Real Madrid. A late loan move was hinted at, but nothing materialised. Inter Milan are now said to be interested.
16. Demba Ba – Chelsea to West Bromwich Albion
This move is very much dependant on how Samuel Eto’o gets on next to Fernando Torres this season, but Ba’s days at the club already seem numbered. Linked over the summer with a return to West Ham, as well as with a move to Arsenal to make room for Wayne Rooney. However, it now appears that West Bromwich Albion could be the favourites to land his signature as they failed to adequately replace the impressive Romelu Lukaku (who subsequently snubbed the chance to return to go to Everton). His chances aren’t expected to come thick and fast this term and a move away, whether on loan or permanently, will probably be a welcome occurrence.
15. Julio Cesar – Queens Park Rangers to various
The QPR stopper has been told that he will most likely be the Selecao’s number one choice for the World Cup next summer, so that’s one thing he won’t have to worry about. However, he still can’t get a game for his club and has found himself behind former England man Robert Green and former Ipswich Town goalkeeper Brian Murphy in the pecking order. Arsenal and Fiorentina have been credited with the heaviest interest, but rumours in August claimed that he was sweet on a switch to Benfica. Any of these moves could still happen if he doesn’t get a run of games under his belt soon.
14. Fabio Quagliarella – Juventus to West Ham United
The 30-year-old had seen himself on the verge of joining Norwich City at one point during the summer before quickly realising that he didn’t want to be doing anybody favours so the move stalled and he stayed put. However, in doing so he has effectively resigned himself to plaything third fiddle to Carlos Tevez and Fernando Llorente this year in Juve’s new look attack. That’s where West Ham come in. The Hammers had tried to steal him on deadline day on loan, but still in need of a striker they could be forced to return for him again in January.
13. Hatem Ben Arfa – Newcastle United to Liverpool
The Magpies know how dangerous the France international can be when he wants to be (also, when he’s fully fit) and are now hoping to offer him a new lucrative contract in a bid to fight off interest from elsewhere. However, Liverpool are in the ascendency and are looking to add to their already impressive array of attacking talent. The Reds aren’t short of money either and would surely be able to tempt both club and player into making the move come January.
12. Christian Benteke – Aston Villa to Manchester United
Villa did well to keep a hold of the powerful Belgian over the summer after he had been linked with a switch to Spurs. It can’t have been difficult for Paul Lambert to persuade him to shun the north London outfit in favour of the young and vibrant team he is building in Birmingham. However, this time around could prove more difficult as Manchester United are thought to be keen on making a January move for the 22-year-old. A move for the hit man could depend on Wayne Rooney’s movements, though.
11. Ezequiel Garay – Benfica to Manchester United
The Argentine defender may have said that he is happy to stay with Benfica, we call know that when Manchester United come knocking they’re a difficult club to turn down. It’s more than possible that Garay’s words are nothing more than a form of recovery, a way of ensuring the Portuguese club’s fans know that he is committed to the cause and that his head wasn’t turned by the interest (though it obviously was). Ferdinand and Vidic aren’t getting any younger and will need to be replaced soon, and the former Real Madrid man would be the ideal place to start.
10. Bafetimbi Gomis – Lyon to Newcastle United
A move that very nearly went ahead over the summer, but stalled due to the lack of necessary funds. Gomis has resigned himself to staying with the former French champions for the rest of the season now, but he is in the final year of his current deal and would be allowed to sign on for another club in January. Newcastle are still thought to be interested as the pressure remains on Joe Kinnear for only managing to bring one single new face through the door over the summer.
9. Yohan Cabaye – Newcastle United to Arsenal
He may have apologised for trying to push through a move to the Gunners over the summer, but that doesn’t mean he is 100% content to stay where he is. The France international reportedly went on strike and refused to train in order to link up with Arsene Wenger’s men, but the deal failed to materialise and everybody got on with their lives. However, a tempting bid in January could see the 27-year-old make the journey south to the Emirates as Arsenal are apparently still keen to add some more depth to their midfield.
8. Martin Skrtel – Liverpool to Napoli
It’s a surprise that the Slovakian didn’t actually make an exit from Anfield this summer after falling so spectacularly out of favour during the previous campaign. Liverpool added heavily to their back line too, meaning he would have to work hard to prove his worth to the team. He’s gone some way to doing that already, but could still be on the move as former Liverpool boss Rafa Bentiez remains keen on bringing him to Napoli.
7. Fabio Coentrao – Real Madrid to Manchester United
United may well have given up the goose in the quest to sign Leighton Baines, and poor old Coentrao finds himself as their second choice, as well as being second choice at Madrid too. A move to northwest England didn’t quite pan out for the Portuguese international last month despite the arrival of Gareth Bale and in a move similar to Cabaye at Newcastle, Coentrao has needlessly paid tribute to the club that couldn’t get rid of him. However, United will still be in the market for a new left back come January and he will still fit the bill.
6. Keisuke Honda – CSKA Moscow to Various
At one point it was almost a foregone conclusion that the Japan international would be joining AC Milan. So confident were the Serie A side that they weren’t prepared to splash out a modest fee to secure his signature as they were certain that he would be joining for free in January. However, they’re now being made to sweat as Everton, Liverpool and Arsenal have overtaken them in the race to take him away from Russia. Kaka’s recent return will soften the blow if he does go elsewhere, However, it certainly won’t be the last that we hear of this story as the San Siro side are bound to revive their interest in the 27-year-old.
5. Angel Di Maria – Real Madrid to PSG or Manchester United
Real were never going to let both Ozil and Di Maria go on transfer deadline day, but there is still time for both player and club to change their minds. Madrid have always been experts at hoarding some of the world’s finest talent and keeping them in and around the side just enough to frustrate them – just ask Wesley Sneijder and Arjen Robben. The Argentine could find his playing time very limited this year, and PSG will have enough money to ensure that he won’t feel that way for long.
4. Ander Herrera – Athletic Bilbao to Manchester United
United’s pursuit of the young midfielder seemed to come out of nowhere, but it got people pretty excited very quickly. However, the move didn’t quite make it though after mystery lawyers and an unreasonably high release cause put a halt to proceedings. The Premier League champions have since said that they will up the ante in January in a bid to finally bring their man to the club. David Moyes’ apparent need for more central assets may yet lead the Red Devils back to Herrera’s doorstep in the January period.
3. Shinji Kagawa – Manchester United to Various
Life at Old Trafford hasn’t been easy for the former Borussia Dortmund man since his move last summer. He has found injuries and a loss of form keeping him out of the side and had been linked with a return to Germany this summer only for David Moyed to turn the offer down. However, Dortmund are known to still be keen on bringing him back, and the latest serial star signers Galatasaray are more than likely keeping an eye on his situation too. If his situation doesn’t improve over the next couple of months he could find himself heading back to mainland Europe.
2. Fernando Torres – Chelsea to Liverpool
The former Anfield hero had reportedly been linked with a shock return to Merseyside this summer, but the deal never really seemed to get off the ground and he remained at Stamford Bridge and Liverpool got Victor Moses instead. However, if you need to release a statement playing down the signing of a new player then that screams ‘PR fire extinguishing exercise’ and gives a genuine cause for concern that there is actually a problem. Torres will need to find himself hitting the back of the net soon, or else faces an uncertain future.
1. Wayne Rooney – Manchester United to Arsenal
This summer wasn’t the first time that the England man faced a storm concerning his future, though it was the first time where it genuinely looked as though he would actually move on. Chelsea, Arsenal and Paris Saint Germain were all set to pounce, before the Blues landed Samuel Eto’o and PSG bagged Cavani. Arsenal got Mesut Ozil, but no striker, and reports are suggesting that Arsene Wenger will return with another £30m bid for him in January.